Cape Girardeau, MO Road Trips
Drivers starting from Cape Girardeau, MO have 11 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. Most drives stay under 118 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Cape Girardeau, MO head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
25
Longest Drive
370.5 mi
Smithville, MO
Quickest Drive
18m
Jackson, MO
Plan Around Cape Girardeau, MO
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Cape Girardeau, MO is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Cape Girardeau, MO
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Battlefield, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Troy, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Bridgeton, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to St. Louis, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Clayton, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Des Peres, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Eureka, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Arnold, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to De Soto, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Dexter, MO
Cape Girardeau, MO to Charleston, MO
Driving from Cape Girardeau, MO
On average, trips departing from Cape Girardeau, MO run 118 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 18m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 272 miles (5h 21m), while the shortest is just 44 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Cape Girardeau, MO include Battlefield, MO (271.5 mi, 5h 21m), Troy, MO (157.1 mi, 3h 4m), Bridgeton, MO (125.2 mi, 2h 27m), St. Louis, MO (115.2 mi, 2h 12m), and Clayton, MO (115.1 mi, 2h 17m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in MO currently averages around $3.77 per gallon. For the typical 118-mile trip from Cape Girardeau, MO, budget about $17 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 11 mapped routes leaving Cape Girardeau, MO and 14 routes heading into Cape Girardeau, MO, covering 25 total connections. Distances range from 44 to 272 miles.
The longest mapped route from Cape Girardeau, MO covers 272 miles and takes approximately 5h 21m. Shorter options start at just 44 miles.
The average route from Cape Girardeau, MO runs about 118 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 18m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.77/gallon for regular), the average 118-mile trip from Cape Girardeau, MO costs roughly $17 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Cape Girardeau, MO include Battlefield, MO, Troy, MO, Bridgeton, MO and St. Louis, MO. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Cape Girardeau, MO by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
40,047
Median Income
$54,870
Median Home Value
$186,100
Median Age
34.2
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Cape Girardeau, MO
Cape Girardeau is a city named after a French soldier/trader in southeastern Missouri. Watch out for murals and flood walls in this college town.
1 Mississippi River Tales Mural. a mural containing 24 panels illustrating the history of the area, the mural covers nearly 18,000 square feet on the downtown floodwall. (updated May 2021) 2 Fort D, 920 Fort St. A Civil War-era fort. (updated May 2021) Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge, MO-34. Cable stayed bridge across the Mississippi that is a Cape Girardeau landmark. Southeast Missouri State University, 1 University Plaza. Emphasis on arts. The Crisp Museum, 518 S Fountain St. Rotating art and history and archeology exhibits. Free classes occasionally. Tel: +1 573-651-2260. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa-Su 1PM-4PM, First Fridays open late. Cape River Heritage Museum, 538 Independence St. Small history museum about Cape Girardeau. Tel:+1 573-334-0405 or (800) 777-0068. Th-F Noon-4PM, Sa 11AM-4PM.
Century Casino Cape Girardeau, 777 Main St. Slots and entertainment and a nice view of the river. The Bedell Theater of Southeast Missouri State University The Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts of Southeast Missouri State Cape Girardeau Bike Trail Cape Girardeau County Park Conservation Center Cape Rock Park, E Cape Rock Dr. Fine views of Mississippi from this bluff. Hiking and biking. Riverfront Park Downtown Cape Girardeau, East Morgan St. Alongside the river.
Minglewood Brewery, 121 Broadway, They have fantastic pizzas and brew their own beer on site. Neat place in historic downtown Cape Girardeau. Dexter Queen, 1109 W Business U.S. 60, Dexter. Bbq. Broussard's Cajun Cuisine, 114 Main St. Cajun seafood and steak.
Rude Dog Pub, 123 North Main St. Spectrum Record Lounge, 113 Broadway St. Independence Place, 5 S Henderson Ave. Night club. D'ladium's, 1127 Broadway. 3:00-1:30. Arguably the best bar in Cape Girardeau. This is the place college students meet locals and alumni. Great atmosphere and has everything one looks for in a bar.
1 Courtyard by Marriott Cape Girardeau Downtown, 400 Broadway St. Downtown hotel. (updated May 2021) Fairfield by Marriott Cape Girardeau (Right off I-55, Exit 95), ☏ +1 573-388-8148. Check-in: 3pm, check-out: 11am. Brand new hotel right off I-55. Free hot breakfast and indoor salt water pool. (updated Dec 2024) Drury Suites Cape Girardeau, 3303 Campster Dr, ☏ +1 573-339-9500. Evening socials, indoor pool. $96 (Feb 2022). Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center, 3351 Percy Dr, ☏ +1 573-334-7151. Breakfast, exercise room, indoor pool. $92 (Feb 2022). Pear Tree Inn Cape Girardeau West, 103 Cape W Pkwy, ☏ +1 573-651-3000. Hot breakfast, fitness center. $56 (Feb 2022). Pear Tree Inn Cape Girardeau Near the Medical Center, 3248 William St, ☏ +1 573-334-3000. Outdoor pool, some snacks and a breakfast. $57 (Feb 2022). Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cape Girardeau I-55, 3253 William St, ☏ +1 573-334-4491. Indoor pool, game room, breakfast. $96 (Feb 2022).
Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport has service on United Airlines to Chicago. I-55, Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge
Travel tips adapted from Cape Girardeau on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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Clayton, MO to Cape Girardeau, MO
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